I OFTEN drive to towns lying to the west of York and must negotiate the tailbacks at Grimston roundabout and then the interminable trail along the A1237 York northern bypass.

Unfortunately, Grimston roundabout concentrates all the west-bound traffic from the A166 from Bridlington, Driffield and Stamford Bridge and from the A1079 from Pocklington, Beverley and Hull. The traffic is then fed on to the A64 or on to York's crowded Hull Road.

Is it not time that York's city fathers started long-term planning to upgrade the A1237 to the same standards as the A64 southern bypass which is dual carriageway and free from any form of roundabout?

This planning would involve persuading the London bureaucracy to let us have some of Yorkshire's money to spend on Yorkshire's infrastructure.

As part of this upgrade, could not the A1237 be extended to a junction with the A1079, west of Wilberfoss and with the A166? This would provide a relief for Grimston roundabout and feed traffic on to an upgraded bypass which already has six feeder roads running from it into York's northern suburbs.

That mediocre, built-on-the-cheap excuse for a bypass is overdue for an upgrade. Why not start the process now?

W D Toulman,

Autherd Garth,

Walkington, East Yorkshire.

Updated: 11:27 Wednesday, May 05, 2004